The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs supports Philander Smith College's
mission which is to "graduate academically accomplished students who are grounded
as advocates for social justice, determined to change the world for the better." The
philosophy of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs reflects the College’s
core values which include, among others, social justice, integrity, scholarship, professionalism,
respect, faith, leadership, excellence, accountability and empowerment.

Collaborating with division chairs and program directors, the Vice President for Academic
Affairs (VPAA) strives to uphold the College’s mission, goals and values by ensuring
a student-centered environment of innovation and excellence, measurable by the performances
of traditional and non-traditional students; facilitating undergraduate student development,
research, scholarship, study abroad and experiential learning; promoting professional
development among faculty and staff; and fostering accountability of teaching, service
and scholarship among all faculty.

Reporting to the President of the College, the VPAA also fulfills four other primary
roles:

Leadership: The Vice President for Academic Affairs works with academic division chairs, faculty,
students, and the College community to set and articulate the overall academic vision
and direction of the College and to establish academic agenda for the future.

Facilitator: The VPAA facilitates institutional achievement of the College's mission, goals, and
core values through the development and maintenance of academic programs and activities;
policies and procedures; measurements of standards and practices; and allocated funding.

Collaborator: The VPAA collaborates with division chairs, department chairs and program directors
of Academic Affairs and with administrators and staff of Enrollment Management, Student
Affairs and other administrative units in order to enhance undergraduate teaching
and learning; to promote retention and rigor in the classroom; to improve undergraduate
students’ development, research, scholarship, study abroad and experiential learning;
and to improve with consistency the College’s graduation rates. The VPAA also collaborates
with the College’s Librarian and staff of the Technology Center to enhance information
literacy and research across academic programs, and with Academic Support Coordinator
to reinforce teaching, learning, and research.

Coordinator: The VPAA maintains a broad and coherent perspective of liberal arts education in
order to integrate the vision and role of Philander Smith College in higher education
and with local, national, and international communities.

Accreditations

Philander Smith College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North
Central Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate degrees. The organization
can be reached at
www.higherlearningcommission.org